Category Archives: Drink

Cocktail Time: Vodka & Cranberry Juice

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Apparently, this particular drink has been named a “Cape Cod” by cocktail afficionados – I have no idea why! Whatever the name, this is a simple and refreshing drink that can be enjoyed at any time, whatever the season.

I had my first vodka and cranberry juice drink in New York City, I believe it was the Broom Street Bar. The drink became a favourite as it makes a refreshing change from the usual, and is really simple to make at home. Here’s how:

Vodka & Cranberry Juice

  • Vodka
  • Cranberry juice
  • Ice

You can mix this drink to your own preference, but I usually have a double measure of vodka. Add ice cubes to a standard tall glass, pour in the double vodka, then top up with cranberry juice. Easy

This should be fairly low calorie drink, especially if you use low sugar cranberry juice. Whatever you choose, I hope you enjoy.

Soundtrack: “(Theme from) New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra.

Platinum Al’s Virtual Hot Tub urges you to drink responsibly.

Rock’n’Roll Drink Time: Jack Daniel’s

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That’s right, it’s not Cocktail Time at the Virtual Hot Tub this week. Instead, it’s just a straight forward tribute to an all time classic, the legendary Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. It’s party time right now, so let’s keep this blog short and sweet to commemorate a true favourite.

You know the name, you recognise the brand style, I’m sure you’ve tried the drink. Jack Daniel’s is most commonly mixed with some kind of cola: Tad sang about it with Pepsi, my good buddy Lemmy drank his with Coke (I can verify this from first hand experience).

Also enjoyed straight, over ice or with any number of other mixers, Jack Daniel’s whiskey is a true classic and a must have for any liquor cabinet.

Platinum Al’s Virtual Hot Tub urges you to drink responsibly.

Soundtrack: “Jack Pepsi” by Tad of any Motorhead track.

Cocktail Time: The Steamboat

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Party season is in full swing – and if you need a refreshing alcoholic beverage to sip on your night out, don’t worry: Platinum Al’s got you covered! The Steamboat is a mix of sweet and tangy citrus flavours, you can’t go wrong.

I’ve seen some recipes for a Steamboat cocktail use whiskey, but at the Virtual Tiki Bar, we make this drink using Southern Comfort, lime juice and lemonade. Here’s the info:

Steamboat

  • Southern Comfort
  • Lime juice
  • Lemonade
  • Ice

Simply add a small amount of lime juice to the glass (I use a lime cordial) and carefully add some ice. Pour in two measures of Southern Comfort, then top up with lemonade (full fat works best). Garnish however you feel, a slice of lime works well.

There you go: a classic drink I never get bored of.

Again, I’m not on commission for this drink, I just want to share the appreciation with my discerning readers. Enjoy and drink responsibly.

Soundtrack: Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Cocktail Time: Kraken Rum

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Many a weary old seadog has told a tale of the fearsome sea monster, the Kraken. A huge, tentacled beast, legends say it can tear a ship apart and drag sailors to a watery doom. Only occasionally venturing from the deepest of ocean depths, the Kraken is never the less dreaded by seafarers – the legend of this behemoth is ancient and terrible.

Also, Kraken is brand of spiced rum that’s actually really nice! I haven’t composed one of these drink based blogs for a long while, so with party season upon us, let’s celebrate this enjoyable spirit.

Release the Kraken!

Kraken is a spiced rum and can be mixed many ways, my favourite being with coke (full fat, of course). Ginger beer is also a god option. Kraken has a taste reminiscent of vanilla and caramel, mixed with cola it has a sweet but deep taste that’s a refreshing variation on the typical rum and coke. There are many other recipe suggestions on the Kraken website – check it out here.

I’m not on commission for this, sadly. Hope you enjoy, and drink responsibly.

Soundtrack: anything by King Kraken.

The Kool Aid Experiment

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Along with Sea Monkeys, X-ray specs and Hostess Twinkies and Fruit Pies, one of the many strange and exotic things I was aware of as a child was Kool-Aid. I became aware of this drink via advertisements in American comic books, just like the other alien products that weren’t to be found in UK shops.

Perusing Marvel or DC comics, there would often be a tantalising advert for this fruit flavoured beverage. These images always grabbed me, with their lucid colours and bold statements. Not to mention the weird and wonderful flavours available: Tropical Punch, Watermelon – even Cherry and Grape sounded unbelievably strange to me.

Of course, it would be many years till I’d track down some of this fabled product, as it was nowhere to be found in UK shops. A while back, I picked up a sachet of Kool-Aid from one of those American sweet shops to try and make it properly.

Sachet
Jug

Yes, with Kool-Aid you need to actually make the drink, as it’s sold in powdered form. This isn’t easy, as the instructions are in American and they use quarts and cups and stuff. But with a bit of a Google, I was able to mix together a large jug of water, Kool-Aid powder and a ton of sugar. Not the healthiest of drinks, even though I was very cautious with the sugar.

The result was a fairly pleasant fruit flavoured drink, which was best served cold with ice. I chose the grape flavour as that was fairly out of the ordinary for a soft drink. It was a bit grainy due to the powder and not the easiest to mix. I was fairly hyper after all that sugar though.

In conclusion, I enjoyed my grape flavoured Kool Aid, but it didn’t set my world alight. It was an interesting experiment, but not one that I’m likely to repeat too soon. Too much faffing about, and I ended up with far too much of the purple juice. Still, I’ve now answered another yearning question from my childhood – I finally know what Kool Aid tastes like.

Cocktail time: Captain Morgan Tiki

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I’ve got just enough time left in 2023 to update you on another favourite drink of mine. This is a drink I took a gamble on a while ago, and have thoroughly enjoyed.

Captain Morgan Tiki is a variation on the famous rum brand, incorporating pineapple and mango flavours. It even comes in a cool looking glass bottle that’s shaped like a Tiki statue at the bottom.

No need for any real recipe advice with this drink, just serve with ice and add lemonade for a refreshing, summery drink. 

Once piece of advice I will divulge: when you’ve finished the bottle (it won’t take long), wash it out and when dry, pop in some lights – a chain of small LED style lights will do. The groovy bottle shape makes an interesting outdoor light feature. Then go and buy another bottle.

Cocktail time: Amaretto and Cranberry Juice

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Well, hello there! We’ve not enjoyed a Cocktail Time at Platinum Al’s Virtual Hot Tub for quite a while, so let’s have one now. Although, this drink is less of a classic cocktail and more like something I just made up. Though it tastes so good, I’m sure you’ll love it.

Ideal as a winter seasonal comforter or a summer refresher, Amaretto and cranberry juice is highly recommended.

Amaretto & Cranberry Juice

  • Amaretto
  • Cranberry juice
  • Ice
  • Marashino cherry

Ok, really simple: pour two measures of Amaretto into a glass. Even though I’m not (sadly) endorsed by the company, I’d recommend Disaronno as the liqueur of choice. Drop in a few ice cubes to keep it all chill. Then top up with cranberry juice (your choice from your local supermarket), add an optional Marashino cherry, and you’re done.

The Marashino cherry works particularly well with this drink, complimenting the taste of the cocktail.

This drink is delicious, but has no name (as far as I’m aware). If you know the correct name, please let me know. Or just let me know your suggestions. Otherwise, as with the rules of trick invention in skateboarding, I invented the drink and I’m naming it.

I’d also just say that Amaretto is a wonderful drink just on its own, or with ice: it makes a fantastic digestif. Adding cranberry juice is an excellent alternative option.

Platinum Al’s Virtual Hot Tub urges you to drink responsibly.

Cocktail Time: Absinthe

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Over the years of my adventures as a bounder and general ne’er-do-well, I have occasionally been known to frequent the more bohemian and hedonistic establishments to be found in town and city. Relaxing in the company of poets, artists and dancing girls, one finds the nerves relaxed and the mind expanded – particularly when imbibing the Green Fairy, la fée verte: absinthe.

Absinthe has a formidable reputation. It’s been made illegal in many countries in the past and has been blamed for murder and madness. But if we take things carefully, I’m sure we’ll be OK. Though potent, it’s not as intimidating as considered – and is very enjoyable when prepared correctly.

Preparing absinthe is in itself a ritual, and requires certain specifically designed items. The glass is usually ornate and stemmed, sometimes with a small reservoir at the bottom. The spoon is perforated or slotted.

I’m no expert, but the following steps explain the method I’ve found to prepare and enjoy this drink.

  • Pour approx 1 ounce of absinthe into the glass; some guides recommend turning the glass to allow the liquid to coat the lower area.
  • Place the absinthe spoon across the top of the glass (mine has a small ridge to keep it in place).
  • Place an ice cube on the spoon.
  • Slowly pour ice cold water over the ice cube so it flows into the glass, dissolving the ice cube – 4 to 5 ounces is recommended, but experiment to find your preferred taste (maybe not too much in one sitting, though).
  • Mix any ice cube into the liquid, it should turn cloudy (which is known as louche). You’re then ready to drink.

The liquorice taste of absinthe (or other similar spirits) is not something I wasn’t a fan of originally, but I’ve learned to like. The ritual of preparation – and the paraphernalia – as well as the history, adds a lot to the experience.

Absinthe is now widely available in the UK. The version in the photos is from Andorra, and slightly higher percentage than found on these shores at 85%…

Enjoy your drink, friends – but please treat absinthe with the respect it deserves and drink responsibly!

Cocktail Time: Valencian Orange

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Summer is here! Warm sunny days, late nights, relaxing by the pool. Paddling pool, that is, as travel is still something out of reach for most of us at the moment. But never fear: Platinum Al is here with the perfect cocktail to enjoy on a balmy evening as you watch the sun go down.

The Valencian Orange cocktail can be a potent concoction, as you can tell from the ingredients. It should, of course, be made with freshly squeezed Valencian oranges, but as that’s a bit impossible at the moment, regular freshly squeeezed will have to do.

Valencian Orange Cocktail

  • Vodka
  • Gin
  • Sugar
  • Cava
  • Freshly squeezed orange juice

You’ll need a large glass (see the big wine glass in the picture for reference). Add one measure of vodka, one measure of gin, and a teaspoonful of sugar.

Next, pour in a generous amount of Cava. There’s no specified measure for this, so play around with it to your taste. I’d aim for a small glass of wine’s worth for starters. You can play around with all of these measures to get your preferred taste.

Finally, top up with the freshly squeezed orange juice, et voila – one Valencian Orange cocktail.

TIP: The cava and the orange juice both need to be chilled (or ice cold) – as ice cubes will melt and water down the taste.

In the accompanying photo, you’ll notice that the glasses feature a sugared rim. This is really just for appearances. You can recreate this with grenadine and sugar, mixed on a plate – which you then place the rim of the glass into, upside down. Obviously, do this part of the creation before you put the liquid in the glass…

Now you’re free to enjoy this great cocktail. It’s refreshing, fruity and potentially heady, all in one drink. Enjoy!

Soundtrack: Spanish Caravan by The Doors, Gipsy Kings, Rodrigo y Gabriela.

Disclaimer: I’ve never been to Valencia. I stole this recipe from an episode of Travel Man, starring one of my heroes, Richard Ayoade.

That Beer Place

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The indoor market in Chester has had a confident resurgence in recent times.  Still the home of many familiar local traders and stalls, the market has now grown to accommodate a whole new and vibrant concept.

A number of excellent eateries have sprung up, offering food of a wide variety of styles.  To compliment this, That Beer Place has also established itself as a central attraction for beer lovers.

I wanted to write a brief appreciation of That Beer Place – and spread the word if possible – for a fantastic enterprise that deserves success.

There’s a huge selection of beer to choose from, both on tap and in bottles or cans.  Whether traditional or unusual, local or from a far flung locale, there’s so much variety that there’s sure to be a drink to suit all tastes.

Staff are helpful and able to advise, if the magnitude of choice threatens to confound.  There are vegan, gluten free and more options; plus cider, gin, wine and non-alcoholic beverages too.  It’s easy and fun to experiment and discover a new favourite.  I’ve been doing it for a while…

Whilst never raucous, there’s definitely a buzz about That Beer Place that makes it a great place to visit.  It’s friendly and welcoming, with a cool vibe that makes it a crucial part of the revamped market.

Good luck to That Beer Place and Chester Market too (not forgetting another favourite,  Death by Tacos!) – make sure you pay them a visit next time you’re in town.

That Beer Place

Unit A19, Chester Market, Chester, Cheshire
01244 941990
Find That Beer Place on Facebook and Twitter.